FAO and ECA Strengthen Partnership to Boost Agri-Trade and Drive Sustainable Agriculture in Africa

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) have renewed their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on March 18, 2025, in Addis Ababa. This partnership aims to advance sustainable agriculture, enhance regional integration, and build climate resilience while driving innovation and economic diversification across Africa.

Key Highlights :

✅ Historic Partnership Renewal:

The MoU comes at a critical time when Africa's socio-economic landscape is evolving, presenting opportunities for FAO and ECA to collaborate more effectively in transforming agrifood systems and ensuring sustainable development. 

✅ Priority Areas for Collaboration: 

• Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security:
  Focus on strengthening agro-industrial policies, improving land governance, and promoting innovative financing for agricultural investments. Efforts will also prioritize implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and enhancing employment opportunities for women and youth in agribusiness.
• Clean Energy Access in Agrifood Systems:
  Promoting the use of clean energy through FAO’s Bioenergy Week and clean cooking dialogues, with a strong emphasis on the FAO Energy-Smart Agrifood Systems Programme.
• Climate Change and Biodiversity Management:
  The partnership will promote the blue economy by ensuring sustainable fisheries and marine resource management. It will also focus on enhancing access to climate finance and strengthening climate resilience by integrating climate-smart practices in regional agricultural value chains.

 ✅ Statements from Leaders: 

• Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa:
  Highlighted that the renewed MoU allows FAO and ECA to better support member nations and advance agrifood system transformation.
• Antonio Pedro, Deputy Executive Secretary of ECA:
  Stressed the need to prioritize collaboration on agroecological zones and climate change-food security interfaces, which will help mitigate climatic shocks and increase resilience.

 ✅ Impact on Africa’s Agricultural Transformation:

The renewed collaboration will address critical challenges such as access to clean and just energy, strengthen regional agricultural value chains, and enhance climate resilience, thereby contributing to Africa’s long-term sustainable and inclusive growth. 

FAO and ECA are committed to executing concrete action plans, ensuring regular monitoring, and providing continued technical engagement to drive progress. Through their combined expertise, both organizations aim to deliver impactful outcomes that transform Africa’s agricultural landscape and secure a prosperous future for the continent.

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